Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-12

Up A NarrvK-A rsorRAcrEp WAKE
Correspondents of the EVENING" STAR
CANTON, CHINA, Jan. "a, 1857.
IL h not often that one sees New Year celebra-
ted twice In the same year. but last night we were
kept awake by the most fendish hulabaloo imae.
Unable. Millions 90 IL scemedD OF nre-crackers
were being set on, and the iring of guns and beat
ing OF gongs soon made it apparent 10 our dazed
faculties that IL was not the end OF the world but
rather, the end OF the Chinese year, and that Q
new one had been born amidst all this frlghtful
din and clatter. We haven't any idea what year
it is and the celestials 70 whom propounded the
conundrum did not seem 20 have any clear Idea
either. However they are all in for gay time OF
It; no work can be had done; from the richest
and clout. all return the same answer-..No cant:
belong China new year" This would make no ar.
TO Extend o9eT % the reea
merchant told US First, plenty eaIee plentee
dnkee, hen belong ptenty Big head" some Eu-
ropean officials OF my acquaintance in the Chinese
service have holiday for an entire month.
sorARING ACCOUNTS BY FrRE
The approach OF this festive season Il heralded
by great number or fires. As all outstanding hal
ances settled at the end OF the year. those no
md that they will be unable 20 settle with their
creditors quietly set fire 10 their houses regard
less OF the fact that they endanger their neghbor
property. One fre, the other night destroyed
some forty houses. The incendiary .sayes his
believes In decapitation. The native Insurance
TO have any faith In them, though he patroniLes
the European ones at Hong Kong
AMERICAN LADIES INsULrEp.
The native city OF Canton is divided by a wall
separating the ancient from the more modern part
and the twelve gates In this wall are kept open &C
this time, all barriers removed and the crowds Al
lowed 10 pass freely. ForeignerA however are
careful TO Keep away, as they are Liable TO be in
suited, II not injured Probably the most unruly
element In China Is the population OF Canton, and
states and have returned with no love for the
western barbarian. An American lady was struck
in the face with piece OF bamboo the other DAY,
but refrained from telling her husband. who MAS
In advance OF her FOR fear that he would chastise
the rufian and both be probably killed by the mob
before reaching a place OF safety Several ladies'
Elissionaries) and their escorts the day previous
were spat upon and abused with the vilest epi.
thets, SO that they quickly retraced their steps
occasionally, when travelling In a Sedan chair
through the streets some yllainous hooking rascal
would put his head inside, make gesture as N
plungfng knife into one and hiss the word
ssak, his face perfectly demoniacal with hate:
but they are great towards and dare not strike un-
less largely in the majority, You see the amiable
almond-eyed, meek celestial, upon whom much
sympathy Is wasted is another being upon his na-
tive heath: not as far as cleanliness. honesty or
all the world over, and this Is truly the city VI
sights. sounds and smellsl We have been here q
year and ought 10 know.
THE FOREIGN SETTLEMENT AT CANTON.
The foreign settlement here Is located on the
Shamien. pretty little artificial island above the
native city. The place was known as "the mud
nats' previous TO 80 but was subsequently filled
in, and the whole surrounded by massive granite
embankment on piles. IL Is OF Irregular, oval
form. 1850 feet long and $50 feet wide. The Eng.
llsh nave four-ffths and the French the remaln-
der. on the north and east sides Il II separated
from the suburbs 10y two bridges, guarded by chi
nese soldiers TO keep the mob ron crowdlng over.
ON the Shamen are the hongs or business housrs
OF the foreigners principally English and German.
There is but one American house-Russell a CO.
JOLLY CONSUL SEYMOUR.
The consuls also reside here, and the dean OF the
corps is Mr.. seymour, the American consul Al.
though in his Goth year. this gentleman is one OF
the Jotliest persons have ever met, and Is most
deservedly popular; the soul OF hospitality, he
never lets an opportunity slip by 10 make speech
or sing 'the Star Spangled Banner" ON Christmas
eve, at little entertainment he was giving, In
reply TO the complimentary remarks OF the British
consul and the expressed hope that he would not
be removed, he said: ''Gentlemen, when my demo-
cratic brothers In my town were looking
around for places some one said, There's seymour
still at Canton and the unanimous response was,
We've got old Seymour as far away as he can well
get, and for heavens sake don't disturb him. Keep
him there"
JOorTNG THE sHAnKH.
In s3 the mob crossed over and looted the
Shamien, destroying much property. From all
can hear, although there were at least fifty able
bodied men on the island, nothing was done I'm the
way or defense, but heavy claims We're afterwards
made. The wardrobes OF the feminine portion OF
the community must have been very extensive as
one lady, whose present style OF dress is certainly
OF the painest, demanded and received s. 600 or
$4,000 for what she lost. Since then the place Ii
AT present, In view or possible disturbances about
the China New Year, there are two-the u. s. n.
Monocacy and the German gunboat 'Wolf.' The
former has been here an entire year, and her
officers and men are regarded as part OF the COM
munity, though the Americans have less interest
than any other nation Save the consulate (Which
by the usual does h-lppp Al ~ and
RuSSefs hong, there are no other American build
ings on the place. The ubiquitous missionary
(male and female) Is here OF course but scattered
through the native city.
IN CASE OF TROUBLE ASHORE
the consul signals the Monocacy, and in three a
four minutes Two companies OF artillery and two
OF infantry (all blue Jackets and one company of
marines, in all one hundred men, are landed and
proceeding at the double quick TO their stations.
4 gattlins commands the north bridge and a II
FOUNDER howttzer the east bridge, while the In
fantry, as skirmishers prepare 10 join In the well
come. This drill occurring every week, the men
are very proficient, and really anxious to shave q
try" In earnest. Occasionally, TO make the
demonstration" more emphatic, blank cartridges
are used, when John Instantly gets on TO a safe
distance.
A CRAFTY OLD vICERoY WHO HATES FoRErGNEKA
The old viceroy, Chang who governs this pro-
vince Is one OF the shrewdest and craftiest OF Chs
nese oficials, with an intense hatred for all for
eigners / never saw him but once and that was
US. minister, Col Charles Denby-something
which never occurred before. We (of the MonOc-
acyl We're all drawn up, In full dress, at the con-
S1kate 10 receive him, ana bets Were offered and
taken that the Old fox wouldn't come-but he did,
preceded by bis demon-destroyers, witch scarers,
paras0l bearers, soldiers and personal stan. A
most Observation-Disclosures parsonage he was; dried
up, unshorn, unkenpt-but We were told that his
personal appearance Tor neglect VI I'D was due 10
his being IN mourning. We were greatly
amused 30 ob}erve the little comedy enacted be-
tween him and the mlnister-frst, he insisted
upon moving TO the foot OF the table as 20 be
on the minister's tef that being the seat OF honor
With the Chinese. SO the head was quickly made
the foot. Then began the dispute as 20 who should
SIT down first, though the Old fox meant TO do so
all the time. Finally he was persuaded? shortly
after the meal, he returned home and has never
reappeared on the Shamien-
CELESTIAL SARCASM.
His great forte is In sending written replies -
some application, and the way he deals out sar.
casm is beautiful TO behold. When the foreign
consuls called on him TO request the removal Of
have remained since the French troubles they
told him that IL would not be "A difficult task az
there We're already eighteen or twenty feet depth
over the INSTRUCTIONS. Thanking them most cor.
daily, he promised 10 look into the matter. He
did Next day he quietly caused a hundred Junk
loads OF stone TO be dropped into the channel
eflectually closing II, and, doubtless has been
laughing In his sleeve ever since. The native
merchants are all afraid OF him. as he s.squeesesr
them ext0rts money from thsm) right and left
ana Is very liberal Ia the way OF furnishing decap
itating exhibitions.
NATIVE WHO TACKLED CAN OF NrTRo-GLYcEKN1
The solicitude he displays In case native is 40
cfdentally killed by foreigner. or In his employ,
Is rather extraordinary, and doubtless he exacts